Predictable crises shape public opinion: evidence from the COVID-19 natural experiment

Taka aki Asano; Tomoki Kaneko; Shoko Omori; Shusuke Takamiya; Masaki Taniguchi

doi:10.1080/17457289.2021.1924731

Predictable crises shape public opinion: evidence from the COVID-19 natural experiment

Taka aki Asano, Tomoki Kaneko, Shoko Omori, Shusuke Takamiya, Masaki Taniguchi

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

How do the predictable COVID-19-related medical and economic crises affect public opinion? To answer this question, we analyze a nationwide random sampling survey (n = 2053 respondents) coinciding with the period from the beginning of the outbreak of COVID-19 to its peak. This scale and timing enable us to trace a shift in public opinion. We find that the levels of public support for big government had increased before the spread of COVID-19. Furthermore, the results show that with the sudden growth of patients, people predicted a future economic crisis and thus demanded the government to implement economic stimulus measures to reduce damage. Our findings imply that public opinion is formed earlier than crises actually materialize.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	311-320
Number of pages	10
Journal	Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties
Volume	31
Issue number	S1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/17457289.2021.1924731
Publication status	Published - 2021
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

COVID-19
economic crisis
Japan
natural experiment
public opinion

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Sociology and Political Science

Access to Document

10.1080/17457289.2021.1924731

Cite this

@article{651c8f42b3114d8785e6dee97764dad3,

title = "Predictable crises shape public opinion: evidence from the COVID-19 natural experiment",

abstract = "How do the predictable COVID-19-related medical and economic crises affect public opinion? To answer this question, we analyze a nationwide random sampling survey (n = 2053 respondents) coinciding with the period from the beginning of the outbreak of COVID-19 to its peak. This scale and timing enable us to trace a shift in public opinion. We find that the levels of public support for big government had increased before the spread of COVID-19. Furthermore, the results show that with the sudden growth of patients, people predicted a future economic crisis and thus demanded the government to implement economic stimulus measures to reduce damage. Our findings imply that public opinion is formed earlier than crises actually materialize.",

keywords = "COVID-19, economic crisis, Japan, natural experiment, public opinion",

author = "Asano, {Taka aki} and Tomoki Kaneko and Shoko Omori and Shusuke Takamiya and Masaki Taniguchi",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 18H00813. The authors appreciate the helpful comments and support of Crystal Pryor and Asahi Shimbun. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 Elections, Public Opinion & Parties.",

year = "2021",

doi = "10.1080/17457289.2021.1924731",

language = "English",

volume = "31",

pages = "311--320",

journal = "Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties",

issn = "1745-7289",

publisher = "Routledge",

number = "S1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Predictable crises shape public opinion

T2 - evidence from the COVID-19 natural experiment

AU - Asano, Taka aki

AU - Kaneko, Tomoki

AU - Omori, Shoko

AU - Takamiya, Shusuke

AU - Taniguchi, Masaki

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 18H00813. The authors appreciate the helpful comments and support of Crystal Pryor and Asahi Shimbun. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Elections, Public Opinion & Parties.

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - How do the predictable COVID-19-related medical and economic crises affect public opinion? To answer this question, we analyze a nationwide random sampling survey (n = 2053 respondents) coinciding with the period from the beginning of the outbreak of COVID-19 to its peak. This scale and timing enable us to trace a shift in public opinion. We find that the levels of public support for big government had increased before the spread of COVID-19. Furthermore, the results show that with the sudden growth of patients, people predicted a future economic crisis and thus demanded the government to implement economic stimulus measures to reduce damage. Our findings imply that public opinion is formed earlier than crises actually materialize.

AB - How do the predictable COVID-19-related medical and economic crises affect public opinion? To answer this question, we analyze a nationwide random sampling survey (n = 2053 respondents) coinciding with the period from the beginning of the outbreak of COVID-19 to its peak. This scale and timing enable us to trace a shift in public opinion. We find that the levels of public support for big government had increased before the spread of COVID-19. Furthermore, the results show that with the sudden growth of patients, people predicted a future economic crisis and thus demanded the government to implement economic stimulus measures to reduce damage. Our findings imply that public opinion is formed earlier than crises actually materialize.

KW - COVID-19

KW - economic crisis

KW - Japan

KW - natural experiment

KW - public opinion

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85108122431&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85108122431&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/17457289.2021.1924731

DO - 10.1080/17457289.2021.1924731

M3 - Comment/debate

AN - SCOPUS:85108122431

SN - 1745-7289

VL - 31

SP - 311

EP - 320

JO - Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties

JF - Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties

IS - S1

ER -

Predictable crises shape public opinion: evidence from the COVID-19 natural experiment

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this